A crazy new game dares you and a friend to escape prison together

Ever wondered what it's like to break out of prison with your best friend? A new game called "A Way Out" offers just such an opportunity, and it looks fascinating.

EA

The game — planned for release in early 2018 on Xbox One, PlayStation 4, and PC — stars two men named Vincent and Leo. They each have their own backstories and goals, but they must work together to escape prison.

The way that applies to gameplay is what's so interesting: You and a friend control one of each character, either in a room together on one TV or online. There is no other way to play it.

That's a risky move, no doubt, but it allows for some really unique gameplay elements.

In one instance demonstrated in the first gameplay trailer, each character is being controlled independently: While one character is in a cutscene (unable to move), the other player above is able to watch and move around the area with full autonomy. It's simple, but effective; having that subtlety of perspective difference looks like it will be used in surprising and clever ways.

The player on the left side of the screen views a cutscene, while the player on the right walks along a catwalk above.
EA

Beyond playing with perspective, co-operative in "A Way Out" also means a variety of instances where you're dependent on your partner. Whether it's making a long jump or being helped up from a dangling ledge, there are dozens of ways this co-dependency could play out.

And that's cool! Too few games cater to people playing games together on a couch; "A Way Out" is a rare game made with co-op as the focus.